Late rally not enough for Jags as Wishaw claim victory

East Kilbride Thistle couldn’t quite spoil Wishaw Juniors’ promotion hopes as the Jags were edged out on Monday night.

A large crowd descended on the Showpark to watch this game, many in the hope of seeing Wishaw gain promotion from the bottom league for the first time in nearly 30 years, while the rest hoped Thistle would continue their recent strong performances.

The opening stages of the game were even handed with play flowing from end to end with Thistle’s keeper Greg Aitken being first in action as he punched clear a dangerous cross and then, two minutes later, diving across goal to make a good save from a Barry Eley shot.

With 10 minutes on the clock, Thistle had a penalty shout turned down by the referee as Jeffrey latched onto Paul Bain’s long ball, only for the keeper to race out and sweep the ball away from the feet of the striker who went down.

McFadden also forced a great save from the keeper from a shot on the edge of the box.

Mark Brown was also busy up front as he had a couple of weak shots easily saved, however, his game was cut short after 20 minutes in what appeared to be a serious ankle injury. Brown was stretchered off moments later.

Wishaw edged in front on 25 minutes from a Moore’s penalty after Mark Butler’s handled in the box.

Thistle fell further behind early in the second half as Aitken parried an Eley cross and Grant was on hand to fire home the rebound.

Thistle then began to dominate as they tried to get back in the game with Colin Irvine shooting wide from the edge of the box and a Fraser Craig effort was cleared with the Wishaw defence under serious pressure.

And that pressure finally told when Thistle pulled one back with five minutes remaining. A corner from the right found Butler towering above the Wishaw defence and he powered a header past the helpless Harkness, leaving Wishaw jittery in the last few minutes.

In fact, Thistle came close to spoiling the party in the last minute as a Bain throw landed at the feet of Irvine but he was unlucky to see his fierce shot narrowly miss the target.

Wishaw held out, though, with the win crucial win taking them up to Central District First Division next season.

Jags boss, Alan Wardlaw, felt his side were unlucky not to take something from the game.

He said: “Mid-way through the game Wishaw were the better team, but they sat back for the last 20 minutes and I think we could have scrapped a draw out of it.

“The positives for us is that we’ve played another team at the top of the table and given them a good game. Out of the three promoted clubs we’ve played in recent games (Blantyre, Wishaw and Vale of Clyde), we’ve only lost by one goal. And, arguably, we could have taken something from the game.

“But that’s why they are being promoted and we are languishing at the bottom of the table.

“There’s no doubt, though, we have made progress this season and it would be good to finish it off by staying off the bottom of the table.”

This Saturday Thistle’s season comes to a close when they travel to take on league champions Blantyre Victoria. Kick-off is 2pm.